Your baptism by fire

Editor:
I have been in India - it never stops raining you know - and missed your well-deserved 20th anniversary celebrations. Although it is many years since I wrote a regular column for PM, I recall the connection with fond memories.
I also owe PM a debt of gratitude for baptizing me by fire in 1997. I had just been appointed by the British embassy to try and deal with Brits in the Pattaya area. My very first case was the sad tale of Thai-British national Mrs Young and baby Lena who were destitute in Pattaya after the sudden death of her British husband.
Subjected to a grilling by your reporters and TV crew about British welfare benefits for dual nationals, a subject about which I knew absolutely nothing, I somehow managed to pull through the extensive publicity both here and in UK. This valuable experience made a man of me in 24 hours flat and enabled me successfully to deal in later years with the insidious attentions of the British Sunday tabloids and the magazines which specialized in attacking Pattaya.
Having said all those nice things about you, I hope you will do a review of my fascinating book Honorary Consul Pattaya which is now seeking a publisher and should be universally available by Christmas. An excellent idea for the stockings of everyone.
Barry Kenyon

Start a petition against the water machines

Editor;
Hi, I called you yesterday about getting your readers to sign a petition to city hall about your article on page 2 about the water machines with 20% stagnant, undrinkable water. We need to get them to close down these machines until they have passed a government test.
Also, have one of these petitions every week. It will increase the sales of your newspaper 10 fold. The word will get around to all the falangs in the city that something at last is going to be done.
Petition 2: the diesel fumes of the coaches; 3: the traffic lights on 2nd Road and Beach Road are a big danger to the public, so we need to get them removed. 4: A driving school in Pattaya for all these reckless drivers. Make them have lessons and a test - no bribery until they have passed a test.
There are so many subjects to write to city hall about. I have given up with them, they don’t even reply back. I’m trying to save lives, whether by good driving, good water to drink, or fresh air to breath.
I have now moved over to the dark side, which is 10 times better. Pattaya is now like Beijing China, with bad air. I have many other plans and ideas for you to put to pen, via city hall. Also, where you sell your newspaper, have a stand there with the latest news in Pattaya’s war on those polluted water machines, and the same next week a new story. Your sales will treble.
God bless a very good newspaper, No. 1 in Pattaya.
Michael McCracken

Plan makes sense

Editor;
Re: Stuart’s reply to Traffic expert calls Sukhumvit bypass tunnel wasteful, destructive (PM Friday, 12 July 2013) - Hi Stuart, I reviewed your plan at the link provided. A few thoughts: 1. After residing here for 7 years, your plan not only makes sense, I think it would be a far more economically efficient use of scarce resources. 2. Your plan is likely to have a far greater positive impact on reducing traffic loads on our key intra-city North-South routes: Sukhumvit, Third Road, and Second Road compared to adding the four planned tunnels. 3. You appear defeated/exasperated before the ‘real fight’ has even commenced. 4. I sincerely hope you take the initiative to place your thoughtful plan directly into the hands of both Suwat Waneesubut and our Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, along with a sincere offer to discuss your plan in detail with either of them at their earliest convenience. 5. I’m convinced that any initial meeting(s) should not be held in the public spotlight. As I’m sure you know, if you expect to change the mind of any Thai, you must first do everything you can to convey appreciation for their efforts to date. Second, you have to figure out a plan that will allow them to save face. 6. I’m glad we have people here who not only care, but who can also produce good ideas. Great work, Stuart! Choke dee khrup... Best of luck to you.
Puying Sniper

Another Monkees fan

Editor;
Re: Life at 33 1/3: Hey! Hey! They were good! (PM Friday, 19 July 2013) - The Monkees’ songs were sometimes fantastic, and many are still favourites in my head, as I bicycle through SE Asia (like “Daydream Believer”). Also, your revue of the album “Headquarters” was VERY interesting - most of that material was unknown to me. Now, I respectfully disagree on the following: 1) Davy Jones WAS a competent, intelligent pop-voice, I think, and 2) Your name-dropping bit about Mr Young is not necessary. Your own, informed opinion is enough, and adequate. By the way, hi hi, did you know that I once met Gene Wilders (“Springtime for Hitler”) in Vietnam, and that he declared Massachusetts and Connecticut, US, “the same”!? How interesting is that, on a scale? I dare you to publish this!
Best,
Pekka Astrom

Congratulations Pattaya Mail

Congratulations... thoroughly enjoyed reading it over the years and wish you many more years of success ahead.
Ranjith Chandrasiri

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Congratulations: Pattaya Mail et al, stands for consistency and quality. May it always be like that.
Dr William van Ewijk

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Ditto Dr William van Ewijk’s comment. Gentlemen and ladies through and through.
Nigel Quennell

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Congrats: many many more years of glory to follow.
Satwat Butt

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Congratulations to you Peter and all your team members of the Pattaya Mail. “Great leadership + fantastic teamwork = 20 years of success.” Happy 20th Anniversary. The Pattaya Mail is brilliant!
Hans Banziger
Swiss Paradise

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Congratulations! Happy anniversary!
Chitra Chandrasiri

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Wishing Pattaya Mail all the very best for a very successful 20 more years to come! Congratulations!
Alice Chapa Poulsen

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Congratulation von Trutz. Like!
Trutz Fiddickow

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20 years ago as General Manager of the Now Marriot Hotel and then the Royal Garden Hotel I had decided to support the “unbelievable” dream of Peter Malhotra, and I placed an advertisement. On that day, Peter thanked me for showing the way to others... but 20 years later, it is me who is thanking him for what he has done for Pattaya and the community... as the Pattaya Mail is now the “Reference” in the way of news in Pattaya.
Philippe Guenat-Patry
Currently travelling in South America

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Pattaya Mail has been running my comic strip for over nine years now, and it has always been a pleasure to work with both Dan Dorothy and Peter Malhotra. It’s an excellent paper, informative and entertaining, and everyone involved should be proud of their accomplishment. Here’s to another 20 great years!
Peter Marinacci

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Dear Pattaya Mail,
Congratulations to you all on the 20th anniversary of the Pattaya Mail Media Group. Staggering amounts of work have been put into coming this far and you all have earned a big party for not only passing 20 years of operation but so many awards for excellence during that time.
I look back on my time working with the professionals at the Pattaya Mail as amongst the best of my life and I sincerely hope that all members of staff understand the gratitude of your customers & former contributing writers.
Well done Peter & the entire team at the Pattaya Mail and may there be many happy returns of the anniversary.
Best regards,
David Garred
Former Health & Fitness columnist & avid PM reader.

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Congratulations from the Todd group Pattaya and New Zealand for your first 20 years of business and hope you have many more.
The Todd group were established in New Zealand in 1927 and knows the value of longevity of service provision. We have had a 22 year history in Thailand and will soon add more training provision services to our CQC in the form of providing specialist close personal protection training.
All the best for the future.
Todd Group
www.toddgroup.com

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Congratulation to the successful of Pattaya Mail. Wish all the management, all the team members and readers are happy and creative to produce good and interesting articles for many years more to go.
Cristy Aphimonthol

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Congratulations, what a fantastic achievement, wish you all the best for the next 20 years ahead!
Marcus Wirsching

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Congratulation on the 20th anniversary. Wish you always prosperous.
Surakit Kerdsongkran

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Congrats!
Hans Peter Graf

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Congratulations, Peter, to your success and this great newspaper. All the best for the time to come!
Johanna Stetten

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Wishing a very Happy 20th Birthday to the Pattaya Mail Group.
From the Pattaya Trader!

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Dear Khun Peter,
Wow, you’ve come a long way! All the best, Khun Peter…to you and your team!
Kind regards,
Vanjie Lauzon (Ms)
Senior Manager - Marketing Communications

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Hi Tony,
On behalf of the International Marketing Team we would like to extend our Best Wishes to all of you in Pattaya Mail Media Group!
All the best and more 20th Anniversary to come!
Kindest regards,
Neil Maniquiz
Manager
International Marketing Division
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya

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Pattaya Mail has clocked up 20 years. I haven’t been in Pattaya so long so cannot measure the progress over this time. Readers have been full of praise for the paper and I guessed there would be many ‘likes’ on facebook (mine included) thinking it would be enough of a personal contribution.
PM w/c 26th July showed the PM 20th anniversary staff party. It was only when I saw the photos did I realize just how great an achievement this is. Peter Malhotra shines with happiness, it is not to do with our contributions, Peter and his team has done it. He wanted it. It works. It is successful. Peter’s happiness shines through. Bless you Peter and may you enjoy the fruits of the next 30 years too.
Paul Rogers

Your baptism by fire

Start a petition against the water machines

Plan makes sense

Another Monkees fan

Congratulations Pattaya Mail